Sword and Kunpeng

Li Changqing returned to the rickety bed, closed his eyes, and sat cross-legged. Following the Kunpeng Method in his mind, he began to cultivate.

He needed to find out whether he could cultivate in this world.

As he circulated the Kunpeng Method, a faint golden glow gradually appeared around his body.

Two phantoms, one ink-black and one golden, emerged from within him. The black one was a whale-shaped Kun, while the golden one was a Divine Peng with its wings spread.

The Kun and the Peng corresponded to yin and yang, slowly circling Li Changqing's body to form a yin-yang pattern.

Even the surrounding air began to ripple slightly as wisps of spiritual energy from heaven and earth were drawn into his body.

"Great, I can cultivate!" Li Changqing relaxed a little, joy rising in his heart.

After all, if he couldn't cultivate, he had no idea what he would do. Yet his joy didn't last long before he noticed something wrong.

"What's going on?" Li Changqing frowned.

"I've only just started cultivating, but this body is so weak, and the Kunpeng Method is so powerful. Even after just a short while, I should at least feel myself getting a little stronger. Why hasn't anything changed?"

"And while I was cultivating just now, I kept sensing two other things inside my body. They felt like they were part of me."

Li Changqing focused his mind and tried to draw out those two things within him.

The next moment, he felt something surge toward his palms.

Li Changqing raised both hands and opened his palms.

A pitch-black sword appeared in his right palm. It had no elaborate decorations, and its blade was plain and unadorned, even looking slightly battered. Its edge was somewhat dull, and it gave off no remarkable aura. It looked utterly ordinary.

In his left palm were two tiny phantoms, a Kun and a Peng, circling above his hand and radiating an overwhelming pressure that looked down upon the world.

Staring at the sword and the Kunpeng in his palms, Li Changqing's eyes widened as a bold guess surfaced in his mind. "Could it be... that this is the Douluo Continent? And I didn't feel myself getting stronger just now because I've reached the bottleneck at rank ten Soul Power?"

To test his guess, Li Changqing willed the sword and the Kunpeng back into his body, sat cross-legged again, and circulated the Kunpeng Method.

This time, he clearly sensed an invisible barrier blocking his path, one he couldn't break through no matter what.

"Just as I thought!" Li Changqing opened his eyes, understanding flashing through them. "This must be the Douluo Continent! My Soul Power really has reached rank ten, too. If I want to keep cultivating, I'll need to obtain a Soul Ring."

He also considered using the power contained in the Kunpeng True Blood to forcibly break through the restrictions imposed by the Douluo Continent's rules. With power comparable to an Immortal King's, the Kunpeng True Blood could easily shatter the rule that required a Soul Ring to advance.

But he soon abandoned that idea.

The Kunpeng True Blood was far too precious. Besides, judging from what the Kun Peng King had said, Li Changqing would very likely have to return to Perfect World in the future. The dangers he would face there were nothing the Douluo Continent could compare to.

Before then, there was no telling what else he might encounter. He had to save the Kunpeng True Blood for the most desperate moment, not waste it on something so inconsequential.

The Douluo Continent was merely a low-tier fantasy world, perfect for serving as his "starter village." It was an ideal place to cultivate step by step, grow stronger, and familiarize himself with his power.

Using the information he had, Li Changqing calmly analyzed his current situation.

"The Sword Martial Soul should be something this body originally possessed. The original owner was a beggar, yet he still managed to awaken his Martial Soul, which means Spirit Hall is still around. Since he starved to death even after awakening his Martial Soul, he must have had no Soul Power and been unable to cultivate. As for the Kunpeng Martial Soul and rank ten Soul Power, those probably came from the Kunpeng True Blood."

"I just don't know whether the Douluo Continent's plot has started yet. How far has it progressed?"

Having sorted out his thoughts, Li Changqing let out a long breath and felt a little more at ease.

Looking up at the sun hanging high overhead, Li Changqing left the dilapidated thatched hut and followed a trail that barely qualified as a path.

He needed to find somewhere inhabited and learn how far the Douluo Continent's plot had progressed.

After he had walked for an unknown length of time, the sun reached its highest point, and the day began to grow hot.

Li Changqing spotted a clear stream. Its water was so transparent that he could see the smooth pebbles on the bottom.

He walked to the bank, stripped off his filthy clothes, and jumped into the stream.

He carefully scrubbed away every patch of grime on his body, then washed his clothes clean as well.

After bathing, Li Changqing stood beside the stream and looked at his reflection on the water.

Judging by his face, he was a little over six years old. After being cleansed by the Kunpeng True Blood, his body no longer looked thin and frail. His complexion was rosy, his features delicate, and his bright eyes held a steadiness beyond his years.

"Not bad. I wouldn't call myself handsome, but at least I'm not ugly," Li Changqing said, rubbing his chin.

He continued washing his filthy clothes, then, with a thought, tried using his Kunpeng Martial Soul.

A wisp of golden flame appeared in his palm. Though it looked like no more than a tiny flicker, it radiated a heart-palpitating heat.

This was Sun True Fire, which contained the Kunpeng's solar power and possessed the strength to burn all things to nothing.

Li Changqing picked up a branch, fashioned a rack, and hung his clean clothes on it. Holding the Sun True Fire in his hand, he stood beside it to dry them.

Before long, the clothes were dry. Li Changqing put them on, and without that sticky feeling anymore, he felt refreshed all over.

He continued along the path beside the river.

The sun slanted westward, and dusk had arrived.

The path beneath his feet grew more level, and wisps of cooking smoke rose in the distance.

Looking at the smoke, Li Changqing let out a long breath, a trace of reassurance appearing in his eyes. "At last, somewhere people live."

Dragging his slightly weary body onward, he pushed aside the wild grass.

The view suddenly opened up, revealing a small village nestled at the foot of a mountain.

Mud-brick walls, thatched roofs, and a few dozen scattered homes stood before him. Cooking smoke rose slowly from the chimneys and dispersed into the dusky yellow sky, carrying the warmth of everyday human life.

Because many of its residents bore the surname Zhao, the village was called Zhao Family Village.

Li Changqing walked slowly toward the village entrance. A blue-gray stone tablet as tall as a person stood there, engraved with three large characters: "Zhao Family Village."

Li Changqing took a closer look, and his heart sank to rock bottom.

He couldn't recognize a single one of those three characters.

"I'm screwed... I can't even read the writing. If I can't understand the language either, I'll really be done for." Standing there, he silently prayed, Heavens, please don't throw another obstacle in my way. Please let me understand what people say!

But things went against his wishes. Before he could think any further, footsteps sounded.

A young villager had noticed Li Changqing standing in front of the stone tablet.

His name was Zhao Dashan. He had just finished working and was heading home to eat.

Zhao Dashan saw that Li Changqing's clothes were tattered and covered in dust. Though his features were fairly delicate, his outfit made him look every inch a little beggar.

Zhao Dashan frowned, stepped forward, and spoke harshly. "Where did this little beggar come from? Get lost! There's nothing in this village to give you!"